Operating device for cymbals



Se t. 27 192 p 7 w. D. GLADSTONE OPERATING DEVICE FOR CYMBALS 2 Sheet-Sheet 1 Filed 001:. 31, 1925 ATTORNEYS Sept. 27, 1921.

W. D. GLADSTONE OPERATING DEVICE FOR CYMBALS Filed Oct. 51, 1925 2 sheets-sheet 2 R O T N E V m ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

lWILLIAM DAVID 'snansronn, or new YOBK, N.

OPERATING DEVICE non cr BALs.

Application filed October 31, 19 25. Seria1'No. 65,914.

This invention relates to improvements in musical instruments, and has particular reference to an operating devicefor cymbals of the type disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 50,901, filed August 18, 1925. i

An object of the present invention is to mount a pair of cymbals in operative relation to each other so that the same will be maintained in continuous contact and, when operated to clash, one of said cymbals will have a wiping action on the other.

Another object is to rigidly connect a cymbal to one of a pair of operating handles and r pivotaily connect another cymbal'to'the other of said handles in such manner that the latter cymbal will have a wiping engagement with the first named cymbal when said handles are operated. i

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from thefollowing detailed debals in a manner enabling the same to be foot operated; t

Figure 5 is .a bottom plan view of the con struction shown in Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure 4.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the numerals 4 and 5 designate a pair of operating handles which are crossed and pivotally connected at 6.

The cymbal 7 is carried by thehandle member 4 and provided with a central concavity 8, the diameter of which 1s considerably larger than the width of the rim por' tion ofthe cymbal, such construction be ing provided for the purpose of producing a hollow sound when thecymbals are clashed, as distinguished from the usual vibratory ring emittedby cymbals of vordinary construction, The cymbal 7 1s securedtoits handle member 4 adjacent the periphery of the portion 8 of the cymbal and when thus secured the rim of this cymbal will beinterposed between the portionof the handle member carrying the same and the adjacent portion ofthe other handle member 5.

The other cymbal 9, which is ot'the same construction as the cymbal 7, is provided w th an extension orbracket 10 secured to the cymbal adjacent the periphery of the central portion thereof and said extension is pivoted at 11 to the end of the handle member 5. The free extremity of the eX- tension 10 has one: end of a retractile spring '12 connected thereto, the other end of which is attached to a bolt l' 3 adjustabfly mounted in a lug la carried at the handle member 5 a nut 15 being mounted on the bolt and eng'agedwith the lug to adjust'the tension o'f'sa'icl spring. 'By reason of the spring -12 the cymbal 9 willbe normally swung about its pivot 11 so that the plane of the strilp ingface of said cymbal will be disposed at an angle to the plane of the strikingface of the cymbalT. Also the. handle members are I so arranged that when the cymbal -9 is in this position its periphery will be brought into and maintainedin' constant contactwith the rim portion of the cymbal 7. Thus when the gripping portions of the handle members' t and 5 are" brought. together; as illustrated in Figure 2, the cyinbal-Qwiljl be caused to approach the cymbal 7 by a movement about the "pivot ll and'at the same time the periphery of the former cymbal will 'wipe over the inner surface. of the rim portlon of the cymbali. By reason ofthis' actie-n it has been-founc'l thatwlien the striking faces lot the cymbal-s clash, a. hollow or deadened sound willb'e produced.

Upon releasing the handles the spring 12,

which is of considerable tension and which has been expanded by the clashing of the cymbals, will cause the cymbal 9 to return to its normal positiom'the periphery of said cymbal being at all times maintainedin contact with the c ymba'l 7. By reason of the present construction it is possible to repeatedly clash the'cym'bals in rapid succession, thereby providing an eltective instrument which may be used in certain types of orchestral music, commonly 'known as jazz.

j" When the instrument is not in use it is desirable'gto maintain the 'cymbals'in full contactingrelation so that the instrument may be readily stored away in compact form.

For this purpose the handle member a has pivoted thereto a latch 16 in the form of a ring which may be engaged over the handle member 5, as shown in Figure 2, to retain the parts in the position illustrated in said figure. This ring 16 may also be employed to suspend theinstrument from a suitable support when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 1.

In Figures 4; to 6 the construction of the cymbals per se is precisely the same as that previously'described, said figures illustrating a manner of supporting the cymbals to permit of the same being toot operated. The support, as shown, comprises a body portion 17 terminating at one end in a bracket 18 capable of receiving the handle member 5, as shown in Figure 6, and having the set screw 19 threaded therein and adapted to engage said member 5 to secure the bracket in position thereon. At the other end of the body portion 17 the same has pivoted thereto a pair of supporting legs 20 which may be spread in diverging relation, as shown in Figure 5, and engaged with a suitable support, such as the floor, to

maintain the cymbals in operative position with the free end of the handle member 5 also engaged with the floor and the free end of the handle member ,4 in a position where it may be readily engaged by the foot and depressed to operate the cymbals. \Vhen not in use, the supporting meansjust described may be detached from the handle member 5 and the supporting legs 20 folded into substantial alignment.

7 What is claimed is:

1. In a musical instrument, pivotally con nected supporting members, and a cymbal carried by each member, one of said cymbals having a movement relative to its supporting member to produce a wiping engagement with the other cymbal when said members are operated to clash the cymbals.

2. In a musical instrument, pivotally connected supporting members, and a cymbal carried by each member, one of said cymbals being pivoted to its supporting member I and having a wiping engagement with the other cymbal when said members are operated to clash the cymbals.

3. In a musical instrument, pivotally connected supporting members, a cymbal'c-arried by each member, one of said cymbals having a movement relative to its supporting member to produce a wiping engagement with the'other cymbal when said members are operated to clash the cymbals, and means connecting the first named cymbal to its supporting member operable to: constantly maintain portions of said cymbals in said wiping engagement during the clashing of the cymbals and to return said first named cymbal to normal position after the cymbals have clashed.

l. In a musical instrument, pivotally connected supporting members, a cymbal carried by each member, one of said cymbals being pivoted to its supporting member and having a wiping engagement with the other cymbal when'said members are operated to clash the cymbals, and means connecting the first named cymbal to its supporting member operable to constantly maintain portions of said cymbals in said wiping engagement during the clashing of the cymbals and to return said first named cymbal to normal position after the cymbals have clashed.

5. In a musical instrument, pivotally connected supporting members, a cymbal carried by each member, one of said cymbals having a movement relative to its supporting member to produce a wiping engagement with the other cymbal when said members are operated to clash the cymbals, and a spring connecting the first named cymbal with its supporting member and operable to constantly maintain portions of said cymbals in contacting relation.

6. In a musical instrument, pivotally connected supporting members, a cymbal car-- ried by each member, one of said cymbals being pivoted to its supporting member and having a wiping engagement with the other cymbal when said members are operated to clash the cymbals, and a spring connecting the first named cymbal with its supporting member and operable to constantly main tain portions of said cymbals in contacting relation.

7. In a musicalinstrument, pivotally connected supporting members, a cymbal carri-edby each member, and means for causing an edge of one cymbal to constantly engage the other cymbal and to wipe over the rim portion of said other cymbal when said members are being operated to clash the cymbals.

8 In a musical instrument, pivotally connected supporting members, a cymbal carried by one of said members, a second cym bal pivoted to the other member, and means connecting said second cymbal with its supporting member for causing an edge of the cymbal to constantly engage and wipe over the rim portion of the first named cymbal while said members are being operated to clash the cymbals.

9. In a musical instrument, pivotally connected supporting members, a cymbal rigidly secured to one of said members, a second cymbal carried by the other member, an extension secured to said second cymbal and pivotally connected to the supporting member of said cymbal, and a retractile spring connecting said extension with the last named supporting member and. operable to constantly maintain said cymbals in contact so as to produce a wiping action of the second named cymbal with respect to the 7 first named cymbal when said supporting connected handle members normally positioned in diverging relation and one of the handle members being movable toward the other to clash said cymbals; 0ft a supporting device for said cymbals including a bracket attached to the other of said handle members, and supporting legs joined to said bracket and combining with the free extremity of the last named handle member to support the instrument in a substantially fixed position with its other handle member above said Last named handle member.

11. In a musical instrument, the combination with a pair of cymbals having pivotally connected handle members; of a supporting device for said cymbals including a bracket attached to only one of said handle members, and supporting legs pivotally connected to said bracket and extending in an opposite direction to said handle members, said legs combining with the free extremity of the last named handle member to supportthe instrument in a substantially fixed position with its other handle member above said last named handle member.

12. In a musical instrument, pivotally connected supporting members, a cymbal carried by each member, and a spring connecting one of said cymbals and its sup porting member operable to produce a constant engagement between said cymbals, said supporting members being operable to wipe one cymbal against the other prior to the clashing of the cymbals.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

WVILLIAM DAVID GLADSTONE. 

